The nation paused on January 20 to welcome a new president. We are blessed to live in a country that changes governments at the will of the people and not the point of a gun.

Work on the economic stimulus package accelerated as the inauguration took place. ASCE accelerated its work on the infrastructure package, too. For the first time, we will be releasing the grades from our new Infrastructure Report Card early [this Wednesday -- see ASCE's home page]. Our Government Relations experts say that the information is needed now to promote the value of infrastructure in an economic stimulus. We also plan to extol the value that infrastructure brings to communities in quality of life, public health, environmental improvement, and long-term economic viability.

Being a member of ASCE allows you to be a part of this important endeavor. We are working hard to make sure that we take full advantage of the current focus on the work of civil engineers — infrastructure.

Most of your neighbors and friends have heard about the infrastructure elements of the stimulus package. What they may not know is what it all means. Take a break, turn off your iPod or television, and have a chat with them.

Explain how improving a road is of direct benefit to them and their ability to make a living. It improves their quality of life. Describe the value of improving their water system in terms of public health, dependability, and security. Talk with them about how the benefit of design and construction spending does not end when the concrete dries. (You can even explain the difference between cement and concrete.) A constructed project provides economic and quality of life benefits to tens of thousands of people for decades upon decades.

The window is open on infrastructure. Civil engineers should get all of the benefits that we can before the window closes again.

The discussion about infrastructure’s role in an economic stimulus package gives us opportunities beyond Washington, D.C. Since people are willing to talk about it, we should seize the opportunity.

Many state and local leaders are cutting back on capital projects because of the current economic conditions. They are going to rely strictly on federal funds to build their projects. We should engage them in a conversation. Interest rates have fallen to historic lows. Acquiring capital will have an extremely low cost. Construction costs are coming down as the volume of work slows for contractors. An entity can save significant money by acting now to enter the construction market. We do not know what will happen to future construction costs as the impact of the stimulus package takes effect. We can also highlight the fact that capital spending on infrastructure is a proven means of job creation and economic development.

Passivity is not a virtue in times like these. Engage your local leaders with these facts. They really do want to hear from you.

We begin 2009 with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as civil engineers. For the first time, the public is involved in a discussion about a major infrastructure initiative. Many people believe that a stimulus bill with a major infrastructure component will be the first bill signed by new President Obama later this month.

Our ASCE Government Relations staff is doing an excellent job interacting with key members of Congress and the Obama transition team. All of us need to join their efforts. Contact your senators and representative to let them know how important dependable infrastructure is to the nation. Extol the job-creating virtues of an infrastructure program. Be sure to use e-mail when you make contact because regular mail will not reach the recipient in Congress in time. [To really get involved in infrastructure advocacy, join ASCE's Key Contact program, run by our Government Relations team.]

Many of us lament the lack of investment in infrastructure over the last 25 years. We should take this opportunity and do everything within our power to make sure that it passes. If we miss this opportunity, we will not get a second chance for a couple more decades.